12 The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of Member States. There are twelve stars because the number twelve is traditionally the symbol of perfection, compl…eteness and unity. The flag therefore remains unchanged regardless of EU enlargements.

There is one EU flag. It is a blue rectangle with a circle of 12 gold 5-pointed stars within it. Apart from that flag, each member state still retains their own national …flag - which, in that country, takes precedence over the EU flag. There are currently 27 member states, with 3 more applicant states. 1. Belgium, 2. Germany, 3. France, 4. Italy, 5. Luxembourg, 6. the Netherlands, 7. Denmark, 8. Ireland, 9. the United Kingdom, 10. Greece, 11. Spain, 12. Portugal, 13. Austria, 14. Finland, 15. Sweden, 16. The Czech Republic, 17. Estonia, 18. Cyprus, 19. Latvia, 20. Lithuania, 21. Hungary, 22. Malta, 23. Poland, 24. Slovenia, 25. Slovakia, 26. Bulgaria, 27. Romania, The three applicant states are Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey.

As of 2012, the EU currently has 27 members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,… Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom The 28 th member, Croatia, due to join on 1 st July 2013. All other countries in the world are not members of the EU..